Speculum



(No Model.)

M. E. VAN METER.

SPBOULUM.

Patented May 9, 1898,

jhventor UNITED STATES PATENT O FICE.

MILES EDWIN VAN METER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

SPECULUM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 497,064, dated May 9,1893.

Application filed May 10, 1892.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be itknown that 1, MILES EDWIN VAN ME TER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at San Francisco, inthe countyof San Francisco andState of California, have invented a new and useful Speculum, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in specula used in surgicaloperations; and the objects of my improvements are, first, to provide aninstrument that shall be practically and completely self-retaining;second, to secure more room for operating and a more distinct View ofthe organs operated upon than are attained by the use of other specula;third, adjustability of the parts of the speculumso as to regulate thesize and form of the opening to suit the nature of the operations andthe conveniences of the operator; fourth, the easy removal of one ormore of the blades of the speculum or the substitution of blades ofdifferent size without removing the instrument from the patient. Iattain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1. represents the speculum complete and readyfor use; Fig. 2. an inside view of one-half of the speculum ring showingthree blades; Fig.3. a side view of one of the blades; Fig. 4.. afrontview of blade; Fig. 5. a side view of adjusting sliding bar withrack; Fig. 6. an adjusting sliding-bar with rack; full view of sidetoward patient; Fig. '7. a section of the speculum showing amodification by substituting a thumbscrew (c) for the pawl and rack foradjusting the sliding bars.

Similar letters referto similar parts throughout the several views.

A. represents the speculum complete; B., the ring of the speculum towhich the blades are attached; 0., the slots in the ring through whichthe adjusting sliding-bars, D, pass; D., the adjusting sliding bars withpawl and rack to which the blades E. E. and F. F. are attached; and bymeans of which those blades are moved, lessening or enlarging the spaceto suit the convenience of the operator; E.,

. the anterior blade; E., the posterior blade;

F. F., the two lateral blades; G., the pawl that holds the adjusting,sliding bars in place when the speculum is adjusted for use; 11., therings to which are attached the straps for holding the speculum inplace; 0., (Fig. 7) a thumbscrew substituted in place of the pawl andrack for holding the sliding bar in place;

Serial No. 432,543. (No model.)

d., the rack in the adjusting, sliding bars; 6., a fiat finger on theblade, being the same width of and working in the slots D thus forming ahinge joint; f., a set screw passing through the posterior end of theblade to and against the adjusting sliding bar preventing the same frombecoming detached from the finger on the blade; 9., a thumbscrew passingthrough the posterior end of the blade against the sliding bar by meansof which the angle of the blade is regulated.

To use the speculum, close it, by first bringing together the twolateral blades; then bring together the anterior and the posteriorblades completely inclosing the lateral blades. The blades are thenintroduced and the speculnm held in place by straps snapped to the smallrings 19. and passing to a belt around the waist. The blades are thenseparated by pressing outward with the thumbs or by pulling on thecurved ends of the sliding bars D. and are held in place by the pawl G.and rack d. or by the thumbscrew c (Fig. 7). When the blades have beenseparated the necessary distance they are then set at the desired angleby means of the thumbscrews g. as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 7. If, in thecourse of the operation, it becomes necessary or expedient to remove oneor more of the blades, loosen the set screwf. and free the blade fromthe slot D.

The speculum can be used with two, three or four blades as the fancy ofthe operator may dictate.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is1 1. The combination in a speculum, of the ring R, the slots 0. theadjusting, sliding bars D. with pawl G. and rack d. or equivalentsecuring device as described.

- 2. The combination, in a speculum, of the slot D. in the sliding barD. and the finger-e. on the blade as a means of attaching the blade tothe sliding bar, and a set screw f. for securing the same, allsubstantially as described herein.

3. The combination, in a speculum of blades with posterior ends curvedoutward, with a thumbscrew g. passing through the curved and of eachblade and abutting againsta sliding bar D. as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 7.

MILES EDWIN VAN METER.

Witnesses:

KATE CRoNEY, H. R. WILEY.

ICC)

